contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships.

HB2450 - contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships.

Education Elections Labor Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Justin Wilmeth
Last action: 2026-01-26
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date; it only shows legislative passage status.

HB2450: Limits on Public Works Contract Rules

This bill stops state agencies and local governments from requiring specific wage rates, labor agreements, neutrality deals, or apprenticeship programs in public construction contracts.

What This Bill Does

Stops government groups from forcing contractors to pay a minimum 'prevailing' wage rate based on the area where work happens.
Bans rules that require bidders to sign project labor agreements with unions before getting a contract.
Prohibits requirements for companies to enter into neutrality agreements with labor organizations.
Prevents government entities from making participation in registered apprenticeship programs a condition of winning or performing public work contracts.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies and political subdivisions such as cities, counties, school districts, community college districts, water conservation districts, industrial development authorities, and special taxing districts.
Contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and carriers working on public building construction projects.

Terms To Know

Project labor agreement: A deal made before hiring that sets the rules and pay conditions for workers on a specific construction project with unions or employee representatives.
Neutrality agreement: An arrangement where an employer agrees to remain neutral toward a union, share private employee information not required by federal law, allow extra access to property, or recognize a union without a secret ballot election.
Political subdivision: Local government groups like cities, towns, counties, school districts, community college districts, water conservation districts, industrial development authorities, and special taxing districts that are mostly funded by taxes.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not stop private companies from making their own labor agreements or collective bargaining deals.
It does not change federal laws like the National Labor Relations Act that protect certain worker activities.
The text defines what counts as a public works contract but does not list specific dollar amounts for projects.

Bill History

2026-01-26 House
House second read
2026-01-22 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-22 House
House Commerce: None
2026-01-22 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2450 - contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2450 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships.

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2450

Introduced by

Representative
Wilmeth

AN
ACT

amending section 34-321, arizona
revised statutes; relating to public works contracts.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 34-321, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
34-321.

Public policy; prevailing wage contracts; prohibited agreements; definitions

A. The public interest in the rates of wages paid
under public works contracts transcends local or municipal interests and is of
statewide concern.

B. Agencies and political subdivisions of this state
shall not
require
by regulation
,

or
ordinance or in any other manner
,

require
public works contracts to contain a provision
requiring the wages paid by the contractor or any subcontractor to be not less
than the prevailing rate of wages for work of a similar nature in
the
this
state or political subdivision
where the project is located.

C. Agencies and political subdivisions of this state
shall not require in any public works contracts that a contractor,
subcontractor, material supplier or carrier engaged in the construction,
maintenance, repair or improvement of public works do any of the following as a
condition of or a factor in bidding, negotiating, being awarded or performing
work on a public works contract:

1. Negotiate, execute or otherwise become a party to
any project labor agreement or other agreement with employees, employees'
representatives or any labor organization.

2. Enter into a neutrality agreement with any labor
organization.

3. Participate in or contribute to an
apprenticeship program that is registered with the United States department of
labor.

D. Subsection C of this section does not:

1. Prohibit private parties from entering into
individual collective bargaining relationships.

2. Regulate or interfere with activity protected by
law, including the national labor relations act.

E. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Agency" has the same meaning
prescribed in section 41-1001.

2. "Neutrality agreement" includes an
agreement to remain neutral toward any labor organization, release private
employee information not required by federal labor law, allow access to
property beyond what is required by federal labor law and recognize a labor
organization without a secret ballot election conducted pursuant to federal
labor law.

3. "Political subdivision" means a city,
charter city, town, county, school district, community college district,
multi-county water conservation district, industrial development authority or
special taxing district established pursuant to title 48 that is primarily
supported by taxes.

4. "Project labor agreement" means any
prehire, collective bargaining, model construction or similar type of agreement
entered into with one or more labor organizations, employees or employee
representatives that establishes the terms and conditions of employment on a
construction project.

5. "Public works contract" means a
contract to which this state or a political subdivision is a party
involving

and that involves
the employment
of laborers, workmen or mechanics in the construction, alteration or repair of
public buildings or improvements.
END_STATUTE